David Henderson Inspiring Journey Grant

Would you like to take a journey that will inspire you and others to think differently about our oceans and seas?

From diving in the Marshall Islands to exploring the Arctic, the annual David Henderson Inspiring Journey Grant aims to inspire public interest in the oceans and seas and to explore how we can ensure the human activity affecting them is conducted safely and sustainably.

For centuries, people have been inspired by tales of the sea – this is an opportunity to write your own tale…

Description

Each year the IMarEST supports the best idea for an original, exciting, and exceptional journey, giving the winner a £5,000 grant. It is important that the project takes you somewhere fresh, different and original. Your journey needs really to matter to you, but also needs to be one that leads you to tell a story in a way that will inspire people to think about the oceans and seas, and perhaps think differently about the sea and how it is used. You will need to be able to tell the story of your journey via blog, vlog or written journal as well as through social media channels and in a final, well-articulated report.

In Memory of David Henderson This grant has been established in memory of David Henderson. David Henderson worked for the IMarEST from 2008 until his untimely death in 2016 at the age of 31. David made an immeasurably positive impact on the lives of his colleagues and the Institute’s volunteers and members with whom he worked very closely and tirelessly to support. He worked diligently to support the IMarEST’s professional development activities and the work of the Membership Committee, Professional Affairs and Education Committee (PAEC) and Individual Case Procedures (ICP) Board.

This grant is in memory of David’s spirit as an adventurer with a boundless passion for exploring other places – taking trips overseas, trekking across countries and taking part in all manner of sports and outdoor pursuits. This grant honours his desire for discovering the new as well as espousing the preservation of the oceans, something he worked very hard to protect through his role at the Institute.

Deadlines

Deadline for initial proposal: 31 August 2019

Shortlist announced: 15 October 2019

Deadline for detailed proposal: 16 November 2019

Interview invitations released: 30 November 2019

Interviews to take place: 3 – 14 December 2019

Winner announced: 31 January 2020

Journey to be completed by: 31 December 2020

Please download the Criteria below. Submissions should then be sent to

After travelling 10 hours – 2 boats, 3 planes and a bus ride later – I
arrived in Tranquillity Island. The resort is home to a turtle sanctuary
and I was lucky enough to watch 3 turtles being released back into the
wild.